I know that handguns are not permitted in Canada. My question is, for the "just in case" protection going in and coming out of my bait stand to bow hunt a blackie, are you allowed to tote a shotgun? Only worry I have is a sow with cubs, or that boar that is in a mood to protect his bait station.

I don't know about Saskatchewan, but in Ontario Canada last year we had a guy that was black bear hunting with a bow, he had a sow and her cubs come in the bait site. The sow started coming up the tree after him, but he was able to scare it off and the sow left.

The guide told him, if he wanted to bow hunt in that stand again he needed to take his rifle with him, the guide told him the sow will kill you. So I think that at least in Ontario you can have a back up gun.

I have thought about taking my bow back to Canada, but my back up gun would be my 18.5 inch double barreled shotgun with slugs. I can but both slugs in a 4 inch circle at 35 yards, that just with a bead front sight.

As far as not worrying, I think most of us know a black bear usually high tail it out if they think something is out of place,But you can run into problems with a sow with cubs and some of the younger bear that just don't know better.
I think some people under estimate black bear.

In Canada you have to use bear spray, no mace is allowed. Read the prohibited rules.

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